A Balkan Rail Odyssey Aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express

Glide from Hungary’s capital on the Danube, Budapest, all the way to the canals of Venice on this deluxe rail journey by private train. Admire the changing scenes on your way through the mountains, valleys, towns and villages of seven countries –­ Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Italy – stopping at ancient and modern cities along the way and discovering four UNESCO Sites.

Stroll the cobbled streets of Sighisoara

Sighisoara, Romania

Attend a demonstration of Hungarian horsemanshipA horse show on the puszta, the Great Hungarian Plain, is a remarkable experience. Whips cracking, the csikoses, or horsemen, gallop round the ring, controlling five to ten horses at a time....

Our rail journeys by private train are in a class of their own, allowing travelers to experience remote destinations in style and comfort – particularly enjoyable on such lengthy and legendary routes as the Trans-Siberian and the Silk Route. Group sizes are flexible and can be more than 100 passengers.

Itinerary & Highlights at a Glance

Days 1-3: Budapest, Lajosmizse, Kecskemét

Begin in genteel Budapest, admiring the Royal Palace, Matthias Church and Gellert Hill before boarding the Golden Eagle Danube Express. Head south onto the Great Hungarian Plain for a spectacular puszta horse show in Lajosmizse and a stop in art nouveau Kecskemét.

Days 5-6: Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, Belgrade

The train crosses the Danube into Bulgaria. Here, tour Veliko Tarnovo, capital of the 12th century Second Bulgarian Empire. Stop in Plovdiv, with its huge Roman amphitheater. Spend a day in Belgrade, the sophisticated capital of Serbia, and admire its ancient citadel, Kalemegdan Fortress.

Highlights

Veliko Tarnovo, where the houses seem to grow out of each other's roofs

Roman amphitheater in Plovdiv, the second-oldest town in Europe

Serbia’s capital, Belgrade, a very old city swiftly becoming one of the hippest places in Europe

Kalemegdan Fortress, the ancient citadel that includes remnants of the early Roman and Byzantine towns

Days 7-8: Mostar, Sarajevo, Ljubljana

Browse the bazaar of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Mostar, named after the keepers of its UNESCO-listed Old Bridge, Stari Most. Visit the country’s capital, Sarajevo, and tour the gripping Sarajevo Tunnel Museum with a survivor. Continue to delightful Ljubjiana, where the arts, culture and nightlife are fresh and flourishing.

Highlights

Mostar’s Old Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljiana, ruled by the Hapsburgs for hundreds of years

Our rail journeys by private train are in a class of their own, allowing travelers to experience remote destinations in style and comfort – particularly enjoyable on such lengthy and legendary routes as the Trans-Siberian and the Silk Route. Group sizes are flexible and can be more than 100 passengers.

Tour Dates & Prices

There are no departures available at this time.

Please contact us for more information and a MIR Destination Specialist will contact you shortly. Thank you!

Please note

For a Rail Journey by Private Train aboard the Daube Express visiting similar destinations, please give us a call to receive information about our Golden Eagle Grand Alpine Express program, from Budapest to Venice via the Alps, scheduled for June 22-July 2, 2018.

What’s Included

On Your Tour

Accommodation aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train.

Per the itinerary, 4 nights of shared accommodation in well-located hotels.

All meals starting with dinner on Day 1 until breakfast on final tour day, including a generous, though not unlimited, allowance of wine or local beer, soft drinks and water with all lunches and dinners.

Arrival/departure transfers, provided you arrive and depart on the tour start/end dates and in the tour start/end cities.

All guided off-train tours per itinerary.

The services of an experienced Train Tour Manager, with local guides for scheduled off-train touring.

Complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water round the clock from your car attendant while on board the train.

All gratuities.

Baggage handling.

Before Your Tour

Personalized pre-departure support from one of our knowledgeable Tour Specialists.

Customized visa application instruction kit (please note, visa fees are not included in the tour price).

Final document packet including luggage tags, final updates and more. Assistance booking your custom flight arrangements (on request; please note that international and internal airfares are not included in the land tour cost).

Our rail journeys by private train are in a class of their own, allowing travelers to experience remote destinations in style and comfort – particularly enjoyable on such lengthy and legendary routes as the Trans-Siberian and the Silk Route. Group sizes are flexible and can be more than 100 passengers.

Prepare for Your Trip

International Airfare

MIR's in-house, full-service air department will gladly assist with your air travel needs.

Travel Insurance

Stay a Little Longer…

MIR can arrange for an extended program in Istanbul, the Caucasus, or Central Asia before or after your tour. All of MIR’s destinations are open to you, and all can be attached to this program. Please contact MIR for more details about exciting options for extended travel.

Is this Trip Right for You?

This trip is moderately active, and rated moderate to rigorous touring due to the daily walking involved and the overall shortcomings of the tourism infrastructure. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least a mile a day, keeping up with fellow travelers. Flexibility, a sense of humor and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are essential components to the enjoyment of this trip.

A full list of details about the rigors of this tour are explained in the Detailed Descriptive Itinerary.

Read our Travel Journals

Douglas Grimes and Annie Lucas, MIR's President and Vice President, had the privilege of being aboard the inaugural journey of the first western private train allowed into Iran. A round trip journey from Budapest to Tehran and back aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express private train, this was a first-of-its-kind itinerary and an historic undertaking.... Read More

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Golden Eagle Danube Express

The perfect combination of remote destinations and comfortable accommodations, rail journeys by private train open a world of discovery to travelers who enjoy comfort and leisure time as well as exciting new vistas.

Exclusive private trains furnish the dream of Old World rail travel with modern comforts and amenities that make the journey as pleasant as the destinations. The luxurious Golden Eagle Danube Express offers a restful and satisfying way to experience legendary rail routes.

Train & Hotel Accommodations

Relax and enjoy the panorama rolling past your private window and disembark for guided off-train touring in fascinating towns and cities along the way.

Each car on the Golden Eagle Danube Express has its own attendants who provide bed turndown service, plus tea, coffee and mineral water from the early morning hours until 9 p.m. Attendants keep an eye on everything while guests are away from the train. Towels are provided and onboard laundry service is available.

Three styles of accommodation are available on board the Golden Eagle Danube Express: Superior Deluxe Class (en suite, with UK king bed and WiFi), Deluxe Class (en suite) and Heritage Class (shared facilities).

Superior Deluxe Class

The Superior Deluxe Class on the Golden Eagle Danube Express is the ultimate in luxury European rail accommodation, featuring only four modern en suite cabins per car, complete with a UK king bed and WiFi access. Designed and built for 2017, Superior Deluxe cabins include a full-length sofa and two chairs, a double wardrobe, individually controlled air conditioning, USB ports, power sockets, personal safe, and a newly designed en suite bathroom with its own shower cubicle. At night, your attendant transforms the sofa into a king size double bed. The two picture windows, one of which opens, bring light and air into your private retreat.

Deluxe Class

The Deluxe Class on the Golden Eagle Danube Express features newly designed air-conditioned cabins which pair luxury with utility, offering superior accommodations that feature two lower berths and fully en suite facilities. Cabins are furnished with two daytime armchairs, a free-standing chair, a window that opens, a table, and a wardrobe with a safe. Your attendant will convert the two armchairs into comfortable twin beds for nighttime use. The en suite bathroom features a range of toiletries, a hair dryer and heated towel rack.

Heritage Class

The Heritage Class features comfortable air-conditioned seating by day, transformed while you dine into upper and lower berths ready for nighttime use. A washbasin is included in the cabin, and large windows make sightseeing pleasant. Toilet and shower facilities are provided at the end of each car.

Hotel Accommodations

The first and last nights of most tours are spent in well-appointed five star hotels. Some tours feature additional hotel nights. Please review the detailed itinerary for specifics pertaining to each tour and departure. Additional nights before and after any tour can be arranged on request.

Life Aboard the Train

The Golden Eagle Danube Express private train provides everything you need for a pleasurable journey. Join travelers from around the world to enjoy the relaxed and casual environment onboard, with no need to wear formal attire on excursions or while dining.

Train formations are not fixed, as the composition varies to suit the number of passengers on a given departure. The exact configuration of train on any particular journey may not be determined until close to departure.

Please note that a variety of cabins styles are in use aboard the train. Décor and layout of dining, bar and sleeping cars on your journey may differ from the sample images depicted in our brochures/websites.

Bar/Lounge Car

A Bar/Lounge Car is included in the formation of the train. The lounge offers a relaxing and comfortable area where you can enjoy a drink and gather with other passengers around the piano.

Dining Cars

Off-Train Tours

Rail journeys feature an extensive selection of educational city tours in the various stops on our routes. Private coaches and local guides whisk you away from your private train for fascinating half- or full-day forays into the principal towns and cities, sometimes including an in-city dining opportunity. Read through this tour’s itinerary for more information (found on the Itinerary & Map tab of this page).

Have a Question?

Send us your question below and we will get back to you soon. We can also be reached by phone 8:30am-5:30pm Pacific time, Monday-Friday toll free at 800-424-7289.